TGIF - Friday Beach Tips Are Back!

Today's North Wildwood Web Cam

Mornin'!  It's 63° in Wildwood NJ.  We're currently under thick cloud cover as Ms Sun's no where to be found this mornng.  It's gray and still (breezes are out of the N-NE at 1-2mph).  Humidity's at 89% with a Dew Point of 59° as it's a tad sticky in the morning coolness.  It'll be a cloudy start to the day as skies begin to clear by this afternoon making for a partly cloudy day.  Temps will be in the low-70s.  Winds will eventually become more apparent by midday out of the E-SE at 10-15mph.  Tonight... partly cloudy, temps in the mid-upper 60s and Southerly breezes at 10-15mph.  Tomorrow... mostly cloudy, high of 77° and Southerly winds at 10-20mph.  Sunday... partly sunny with temps nearly tapping 80° and those Southerly breezes staying checked in.  If you took next week as your vacation week in Wildwood, you scored big time as it'll be a sunny, warm, lovely week down the Shore!  Oh... tonight's the first night for Friday Night Fireworks at 10PM in Wildwood returning to Pine Avenue and the Beach. 
High tide: 8:44AM
Low tide: 2:53PM
Ocean temp: 70°
Sunrise: 5:35AM
Sunset: 8:29PM
Moonrise: 9:51PM
UV Index: 8-9
Rip Current: Moderate risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,022,094
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,417
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,274
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208 

Today's the first time in a long time that I've posted those Friday Beach Etiquette tips for you Beach Goers!  Take heed of some important Beach tips! Most of these points have been taken from my personal observations. 

~Things I pack for the beach... bottled water, a spray bottle of water for you never know what, a hat, footwear (it's amazing how many folk don't wear something on their feet when trekking the extremely hot, burning sand and even worse forget to put footwear on their children), towel, sunblock, insect repellent (for the West Wind Biting Flies), first aid kit (I include a tiny bottle of vinegar for jelly fish stings), some shade (umbrella or sand chair with lid/canopy), something to read, sanitizing wipes, a small trash bag to collect any trash you may accumulate, and I always bring my crocheting as I love to crochet on the beach.  Some of my best baby blankets are "salty".  

~Setting up your umbrella... be aware of wind direction and wind speed.  If it's windy, take those extra steps to secure your umbrella (sand screws or grabbers) or bungee cord (you can secure your umbrella to your beach cart or cooler etc).  It's common to see how unsecured umbrellas can be as the wind launches them directly toward unknowing folks relaxing in the line of fire about to be impaled.  And, remember to open your umbrella into the wind otherwise, that wind will be blowing your umbrella inside out in a snap of a finger. 

~Know the time of your tides.  Always check with the lifeguard if unsure.  If the tide is at its highest, you can sit as close to the surf as you want as the tide will be taking the entire day to slip into low tide and the beach grows bigger and bigger.  It takes 6 hours for the tide to go from High to Low.

~There is "no smoking" on the beach.  That includes pipes, vapes, cigars and marijuana.  Wildwood Crest has a designated smoking area for cigarette smoking.  There's "no smoking" of any kind on the boardwalk too.  As New Jersey has recently legalized Marijuana, you cannot smoke it in these small coastal towns as they've all outlawed it including Wildwood.  It's allowed on private property.
~No alcohol is allowed on the beach

~Dogs are allowed on Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches from Oct-May.  Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at any time.  There are a couple of great beach dog-parks.  One at 3000 Glenwood Ave. at the beach and one in North Wildwood at 24th and the beach.  NW requires a permit and also posts that dogs are not allowed on the beach when lifeguards are present (9:30-5:30).  Dog's must be on a leash at all times when not in the dog parks.

~When going to the beach and deciding where to set camp, kindly give those around you a little extra space as courtesy is key.  Careful not to plop down only inches from someone else's camp.  This one's amazing to me as I see it time and time again.  Most beaches are huge yet folks set up camp only inches from those there when in fact it could have been literally 30 feet away.  It happens more often than not.  I have yet to figure it out.  Human connection?  Whatever, it's a very strange phenomenon.
~Never leave trash on the beach.  Better yet, pick up any you see whether it's yours or not.  There are many, many trash and recycle containers on the beach and sidewalks.  Use them. 
~If into music, remember your headphones.  Believe it or not, no one really wants to hear your blasting music drowning out the soothing sounds of the surf.  And, turn that (not too loud) speaker towards you, not to the other folks on the beach.

~Teach children beach etiquette.  Throwing sand is a no-no.  Teach them not to run or chase one another around someone laying on their blanket as the kicked up sand from the wind winds up all over the person lying there peacefully.  I've had families whose little toddlers take off running from their campsite right to mine and onto my blanket before any adult could grab them.  I guess it's cute.  My advice to parents of young toddlers (1-2 year olds)... bring a "pack-n-play" for them as I can assure you that your day will be much more enjoyable with those babes confined.
~Remember when shaking out towels or blankets, be conscious of the wind direction and shake away from those in close proximity of your shaken sands.

~Feeding seagulls is a big no-no.  Eat and snack smartly.  Using hands up or out when holding a sandwich to express oneself is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Drop just one potato chip and you'll create seagull havoc.  Eat under your umbrella or chair canopy.  Seagulls are vultures and are endlessly eyeing beach goers eating habits.  They're relentless in trying to find the opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  By the way, Seagulls know "chip bags" and if you have an unsupervised blanket or bag with chip bags exposed, they will help themselves to that bag and share their newly acquired beach find with their gull family and friends.
~Playing ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, kite-flying, ladder toss, spike ball, paddle ball, volley ball, kan-jam, beach darts, etc., is a no-no where everyone's camped beaching.  The dune or emptier side of the beach is designated for those active beach games.  The beach patrol will probably stop you anyway. But, be mindful of those around you who are not in the game.
~Observe all posted warnings... beach closures, no alcohol or marijuana, rip currents, surfing only etc.  If in doubt, check with the lifeguards.  

~And lastly, be courteous.  Courtesy is key.  Be kind and considerate of everyone enjoying this beautiful moment along with you.  Happy Beaching!